The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-03-22
Che 9aily Bnllstin.
TUESDAY. MAR. %, 1887.
GLASS IN HER LUNGS.
A YOUNG LADY's LIFE SAVED BY A
DARING SURGICAL OPERATION
PART OF A RIB CUT AWAY TO
FACILITATE THE WORK.

Meulcal circles Ill tHIS Guy IaNS
again been startled by the remark
able operation of bold surgeon,
says tho Cincinnati Enquirer. 1t
consisted of laying open the chest,
cutting into the lung and removing
foreign body; the patient recover
ing. Abdominal surgery has be-
come an everyday occurrence, but
this procedure has never before
been attempted. The chest cavity
with its contained organs is con-
slant bugbear to the doctors. The
patient is young lady of about
twenty, the daughter of an Eastern
stock-broker. When child at play
she was thoughtless enough to put
colored-glass bottle in her mouth.
BY some sudden motion or jar the
glass was broken and part of it went
into her wind-pipe. A violent fiji of
coughing ensued and small bits were
expectorated, but from the symp-
toms manifested it was evident that
a portion of the glass still remained
in her throat. Severe hemorrhage
ensued the next day, and was only
checked by the most energetic mea-
sures. The bleeding occurred the
next day and the next, and each
time threatening TO terminate
fatally.
At the end of week the flow of
blood was stopped, and the child
showed signs of improvement. Its
appetite returned and its usual fond
ness for play was seen, yet at times
in the midst of its frolics the little
one would stop, put her hand to her
chest and give evidence of the most
terrible suffering. 1t was hoped the
child would outgrow the affection,
as it was believed its condition was
due to disease of the lungs. AT the
age of six years, however, the child
had an attack of spasmodic cough
ing, which lasted about ten minutes
and terminated in the expulsion OF
several pieces of glass as large as
. the end of lead pencil. At this
time she again nearly bled to death,
but this was averted, and she imme-
diately grew better. Her conva-
!; lescence was rapid, and in months
a time she was able to start to school.
She made satisfactory progress in
her school work, and at last gra-
duated, ut the age of seventeen,
with high honors. One year later a
j., hacking cough appeared, accompa-
s. MED by loss of flesh and strength,
impaired appetite, pallor and all the
Accomplishments of early consump-
ton. The doctor in attendance was
). firm in his belief that this was the
malady so rapidly carrying her to
the grave. Medicines were given,
but without avail.
=, One day while the physician was
! examining her small red spot was
noticed on the left side just below
the arm-pit. 1t was very tender on
pressure, evidently containing pus.
p! The idea at once struck the doctor
that.a piece OF the glass swallowed
years before might have lodged il
i'd this spot, and, after so long remain
ing quiet, had begun to make it,
" presence known. With the consen
of the young lady and her friends
preparations were made for an Ope
ration with the view of finding on
:. the cause of her disease and, if pos
is is sible, remedying it.
'r, The patient was etherized at II
in O'Clock in the morning. Forty-tiv
or minutes later the operation wa
Of completed. After thoroughly cleans
ing the part with antiseptic solution
il. the knife was inserted just beneatl
F. the pit of the arm and drawn down
= ward two inches. A large quantit
of offensive matter escaped. d
\ introducing the finger into tn
" wound cavity was found as larg
as a small orange. This was line
by very tough adherent tissue
At one point could easily be felt tn
sharp edge of piece of glass.
Zip was impossible to extract it throug
the opening made without endangel
ing the adjacent tissue. Const
i'll quentIy about one and half inche
of the rib opposite was sawed of
thus giving the surgeon a good vie
and permitting the manipulation c
instruments. The piece of glas
til was attached SO tightly that it Ina
lat to be cut loose by curved scissors
IT. Little or no bleeding occurred, how
,ly ever. After searching around tn
cavity TO be sure that nothing NOR
Is. remained it was washed out wit
antiseptic water. A rubber tub
n was introduced to drain away til
y" discharge, and the wound was close
with silver wire, leaving the cut ri
to take care of itself. During til
operation the patients pulse We
Zip strong, except at the moment whe
the glass was cut loose, at whic
time it grew rapid and weak, b,
MI soon recovered its normal force.
The young lady sat up in tw
weeks and in a month took rid
Her recovery was rapid and con
plete, her appetite returned, HI
it'll arms grew plump, the roses al
rita. peared on her cheeks, and the oil
su. loving fire burned again in her eye
ply She has since developed into qui
,ts noted singer, and at conce
recently won laurels IN great pr